Music News (3/26/25)

Prescription Songs Promotes Chris Martignago To VP Of A&R

Chris Martignago. Photo: Taylor Christian Jones

Prescription Songs has promoted Chris Martignago to VP of A&R in its Nashville office.

Martignago joined the independent publishing company in 2021 after nearly 10 years in the A&R Research department at Atlantic Records. While he has been at Prescription Songs, Martignago has built an impressive roster including Grammy-nominated and award-winning creatives such as Anderson East, Trent Dabbs, JT Daly, Nick Lobel, Tony Esterly, Brett Truitt, Josie Dunne, Dominique Sanders, Derik Fein, Heather Russell and Vancouver Sleep Clinic.

“Since joining Prescription Songs, Chris has shown exceptional leadership and creative skills,” says Rhea Pasricha, Prescription Songs’ Head of A&R, West Coast. “He has championed and ushered in diverse talent and has helped to shape the future of our roster with his keen ear and passion for artistry. We’re thrilled to see him step into this new role as VP of A&R in Nashville.”

Martignago adds, “I have learned so much and we’ve made excellent progress here in Nashville during my first four years at the company. I am looking forward to continuing to champion our exceptional creative team and roster with the opportunity of this new role. I am grateful to Rhea for the faith she has in me and my ability to step up to the challenge.”

Clint Lagerberg Inks With Peermusic Nashville

Clint Lagerberg. Photo: Eric Erwin

Peermusic has signed Clint Lagerberg to a worldwide publishing deal. The signing encompasses co-publishing of future works and select back catalog.

Lagerberg is a Grammy-nominated, ACM-nominated, NSAI “Song Of The Year” and MusicRow “Song of the Year” winning songwriter/producer. His notable songs include Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye,” Josh Kelley’s “Georgia Clay,” and Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” marking the most successful song in Urban’s career to date. He has also scored cuts with artists such as Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Matt Stell, LoCash, Tim McGraw and more.

“Clint is a great producer and he wrote one of my favorite songs in country music—”Blue Ain’t Your Color” by Keith Urban. He’s already proven his ability to land songs on the top of the charts, but it’s his process that is really impressive to me,” shares President of Peermusic Nashville Michael Knox. “Clint has the technical knowledge and ability to see it through from conception to song production and delivery. Best of all, he’s an incredible person. We couldn’t be happier to welcome him to the Peermusic Nashville roster.”

AJ Pruis Extends Deal With Combustion Music & Story House Collective

Pictured (L-R): Combustion Music’s Keithan Melton, Combustion Music’s Falcon, Story House Collective’s Matthew West, AJ Pruis, Combustion Music’s Chris Farren, Combustion Music’s Kelly Lyons and Combustion Music’s Blake Duncan. Photo: Melissa Pruis

AJ Pruis has extended his publishing deal with Combustion Music in partnership with Story House Collective.

Pruis recently notched his eighth No. 1 single as a songwriter with Tasha Layton and Chris Brown’s “Worship Through It.” Pruis works in country, pop and Christian writers’ rooms, with credits on songs from Newsboys, Matthew West, Sanctus Real, Megan Moroney, Max McNown, Corey Kent, Fletcher, Colbie Caillat, Hey Violet and more.

He co-wrote and co-produced several tracks on West’s album Don’t Stop Praying, including his current top 15 single, “Unashamed”. Pruis’ more recent cuts include Kent’s “Break Like That,” Reyna Roberts’ “Justify.” Spencer Crandall’s “The Right One,” Rhett Walker’s “Somebody Say Amen,” Loyals’ “Give To Me,” Olivia Lane’s “Who God Says You Are” and more. Prius has also had songs cut by Ingrid Andress, Jordan Feliz, Alana Springsteen, Casting Crowns, Anne Wilson, Locash, Scotty McCreery and more.

“Couldn’t be happier to extend our partnership with Matthew West and AJ Pruis. AJ continues to excel and win in multiple formats,” says Combustion Music President Chris Farren. “We are so pumped to continue winning together.”